My March 2012 Rondo Trade Idea: Charlotte

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Here's a rebuilding idea, assuming Danny doesn't get a star player in return for Rondo over the next two weeks. Back-up plan: call MJ and sell him on rebuilding around Rondo and their pick in this year's draft. Here's the trade:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=8xsyj64

Essentially, the Cs follow Nuggets lead of mixing a couple of quality veterans with young role players with strengths & upside. The Celtics get 3 of them in Walker, Henderson and Biyombo -- all players who appear to be eminently coachable.

Henderson and Bradley make a very stout defensive back court. Walker comes off the bench in an expanded 6th man role for offensive pop. Pierce steadies the ship at the 3. Biyombo is developed in the vein of Theo Ratliff -- a defensive menace at the 5, albeit one who can run the floor and finish on the break as well. JJJ's midrange game compliments BB's weaknesses as he grows and matures.

The roster is filled out with an improved draft pick this year, as well as whoever we get for Pierce, Ray or KG in trade. If they stay, great -- we still have tons of flexibility in the next few FA markets. Wilson Chandler comes to mind as a a guy who might fit in with this ath-a-letic, defensive minded squad. Point is... we use our cap space patiently to trade for or sign the right player(s) over the next 2-3 years while also adding some additional solid draft picks.

If we can't get fair market value for Rondo, yet the Cs are determined to trade him, they could do worse. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Heck nooooooooooo  ....What up wiff dat?

I live down here. Bobcats suck and we'd soon keep it that way. 

[Who]

I'd rather have Rondo than Biyombo, Henderson and Kemba.

Interesting idea though. It's tempting. A little tempting. Maybe more than a little, not sure.

I really like Biyombo although I am a bit uncomfortable at him (defender/rebounder) being the first piece of my rebuilding puzzle. I'd rather have him after I've found a pair of talented offensive players.

[Celts Fan 92]

the bobcats have absolutely nobody i want on this team nobody in the same league as rondo no sir

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I'd rather have Rondo than Biyombo, Henderson and Kemba.

Interesting idea though. It's tempting. A little tempting. Maybe more than a little, not sure.

I really like Biyombo although I am a bit uncomfortable at him (defender/rebounder) being the first piece of my rebuilding puzzle. I'd rather have him after I've found a pair of talented offensive players.

So would I. But I'd rather have these 3 over Steph Curry, for example. Thus my preface: if they're simply determined to trade the guy....

If that clear-cut rebuilding piece is not out there in return for Rondo, I like the types of players these are mixed in with JJJ and Bradley. Use your draft picks and flexibility to find that volume scorer or passer over the next couple of seasons. Perhaps Pierce could fetch that player (i.e. Rudy Gay).

[Geo123]

Neither team would make this trade.  We aren't blowing things up so why would we do this?  The answer is we wouldn't and MJ doesn't want to pay anyone big dallars so he wouldn't do it either.   

[PosImpos]

It's interesting, but with little sign that any of those three players is ever going to turn into a player of Rondo's caliber, I don't really see the motivation.

[Evantime34]

I'd probably do that deal if we got their unprotected first this year and the pick the Blazers owe them.

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It's interesting, but with little sign that any of those three players is ever going to turn into a player of Rondo's caliber, I don't really see the motivation.

To get better faster.

Could say the same for the guys Denver got in the Carmelo deal. Yet they don't suffer through his deficiencies, poor nights and questionable attitude. Meanwhile, in a few years Danilo may work out to be the superior player. Panning out for them well.

Even the Grizz managed to benefit from a pieces-for-star trade of Pau Gasol.

[PosImpos]

It's interesting, but with little sign that any of those three players is ever going to turn into a player of Rondo's caliber, I don't really see the motivation.

To get better faster.

Could say the same for the guys Denver got in the Carmelo deal. Yet they don't suffer through his deficiencies, poor nights and questionable attitude. Meanwhile, in a few years Danilo may work out to be the superior player. Panning out for them well.

Even the Grizz managed to benefit from a pieces-for-star trade of Pau Gasol.

Really all I think the trade accomplishes is ensures that our team will be downright awful for the next season or two.

Kemba, Henderson, and Bismack at this point look like they'll be career roleplayers.  Maybe not even very good ones.

Referencing the Gasol trade, which was horrible when it was made and only worked out because Marc Gasol turned out to be a good player despite being a late 2nd round pick (how the heck did he fall that far?), doesn't really help your argument.

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It's interesting, but with little sign that any of those three players is ever going to turn into a player of Rondo's caliber, I don't really see the motivation.

To get better faster.

Could say the same for the guys Denver got in the Carmelo deal. Yet they don't suffer through his deficiencies, poor nights and questionable attitude. Meanwhile, in a few years Danilo may work out to be the superior player. Panning out for them well.

Even the Grizz managed to benefit from a pieces-for-star trade of Pau Gasol.

Really all I think the trade accomplishes is ensures that our team will be downright awful for the next season or two.

Kemba, Henderson, and Bismack at this point look like they'll be career roleplayers.  Maybe not even very good ones.

Referencing the Gasol trade, which was horrible when it was made and only worked out because Marc Gasol turned out to be a good player despite being a late 2nd round pick (how the heck did he fall that far?), doesn't really help your argument.

I know -- it's hard to believe. But Memphis didn't just improve because of Marc... they restructured through the draft and free agency to be genuinely competitive position by position, instead of mediocre via being "built" around an all-star who wasn't / never would be a superstar, much like we will be.

I agree that we won't be good for a couple of years. We won't be whether we do this trade or not. We have 3 1st round picks over the next 2 years and tons of cap space -- I'd rather start the road to recovery full circle than pretend we're going to be good, or that we're going to get more for Rondo.

Regarding the players, they're all young and showing strong improvement. While I'd argue it's far too early to conclude who or what they'll be, I guess I just like them more than you do. Fair enough.

[Smokeeye123]

Love the trade. Maybe the Bobcats do it for the Clippers 1st and Bucks second...Then maybe they would give us their 1st round pick to.

[PosImpos]

It's interesting, but with little sign that any of those three players is ever going to turn into a player of Rondo's caliber, I don't really see the motivation.

To get better faster.

Could say the same for the guys Denver got in the Carmelo deal. Yet they don't suffer through his deficiencies, poor nights and questionable attitude. Meanwhile, in a few years Danilo may work out to be the superior player. Panning out for them well.

Even the Grizz managed to benefit from a pieces-for-star trade of Pau Gasol.

Really all I think the trade accomplishes is ensures that our team will be downright awful for the next season or two.

Kemba, Henderson, and Bismack at this point look like they'll be career roleplayers.  Maybe not even very good ones.

Referencing the Gasol trade, which was horrible when it was made and only worked out because Marc Gasol turned out to be a good player despite being a late 2nd round pick (how the heck did he fall that far?), doesn't really help your argument.

I know -- it's hard to believe. But Memphis didn't just improve because of Marc... they restructured through the draft and free agency to be genuinely competitive position by position, instead of mediocre via being "built" around an all-star who wasn't / never would be a superstar, much like we will be.

I agree that we won't be good for a couple of years. We won't be whether we do this trade or not. We have 3 1st round picks over the next 2 years and tons of cap space -- I'd rather start the road to recovery full circle than pretend we're going to be good, or that we're going to get more for Rondo.

Regarding the players, they're all young and showing strong improvement. While I'd argue it's far too early to conclude who or what they'll be, I guess I just like them more than you do. Fair enough.

Hey, I'm with you on all of that, but that doesn't mean it makes sense to trade Rondo just for the sake of getting worse.  I'd want to feel that we're getting good value back.  Otherwise, why not keep Rondo as a rebuilding asset?  He's not a player you rebuild around, but he's good enough to be a piece though he isn't the piece.  

The difference between Rondo and Pau is that unlike Pau, Rondo isn't likely to elevate the C's to a borderline-playoff-team if he's far and away our best player.  In other words, I think it's possible to rebuild through the draft with high picks even if we hold onto Rondo.

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Pos -- sure. Makes sense. I'd like Rondo to stay and be an asset to the team in attracting other players and building a successful squad, as well. However, if his immature petulance continues, and he's going to be a force of detraction from both of the above, i'd do a deal like this to accelerate the cycle of cultural change.

So it's basically about gauging that and pulling the trigger either way. Danny and Doc know which path is most likely as the Big 3 begin to migrate away from the team more than anyone. But to be sure -- his reputation and their activity in the market has continued to drive Rondo's value down over the past 12-18 months (read: players like Austin Daye mentioning how he's always on the block). If the constant shopping keeps up, it'll be to the detriment of both Rondo and Rondo's value, and the situation will inevitably come to a head.

Essentially, it's going to get harder and harder to trade him, so they better be darn sure he's going to be a long term fit. If so, commit to him and make it clear. But I suspect they doubt that, therefore the constant chatter about his availability. If they're determined to trade him, I believe we're going to receive considerably less in return than most fans would hope.